I don't consider myself a runner. More like a trotter. I have been trotting for about 8 years now and have never entered any type of running event. But now that has changed. Yes, that's right. On November 10, 2012, I am going to run in the Santa Barbara International Marathon with my friends as a relay team member.

A couple of years ago, I had the honor of meeting Bill & Victoria Strong and their daughter. Gwendolyn was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the #1 Genetic Killer of Infants. This disease is brutal and just plain cruel. There is no treatment, there is no cure. It is a degenerative disease that hinders the ability to speak, walk, eat, breathe, and swallow. Basically, it takes away everything that makes a child's life magical and wonderous. Most children with this disease do not live past their second birthday. Sweet Gwendolyn wlll be turning 5 in October!

I am going to run for Gwendolyn. And I hope to raise funds along the way to help find a cure, so one day Gwendolyn and so many others with SMA can run too. Every dollar raised will go towards The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation; a non-profit organization dedicated to ending SMA and supporting those families impacted by this disease.

For more information about SMA and to keep up with the Strongs, please visit thegsf.org.